Schizophrenic inmate Ryan Partridge, who gouged out his eyes after suffering untreated delusions in solitary confinement, wins $2.5 million in civil lawsuit against Colorado jail
- Ryan Partridge, 37, was left permanently blind during his self-harm from psychosis, but has now won his battle against the Boulder County Jail in Colorado.
- Footage from inside the prison showed staff using force against Partridge, who was naked, when he was an inmate having a mental breakdown.
A schizophrenic inmate who put his eyes out of his head after suffering untreated delusions in solitary confinement has won a $2.5 million settlement.
Ryan Partridge, 37, who was in jail for a minor assault with another homeless person, became permanently blind during his psychotic self-harm. But he has now won his legal battle against the Boulder County Jail in Colorado.
The hefty settlement was for two issues: deliberate “indifference to his serious psychiatric needs” and excessive use of force by jail staff.
Footage from inside the prison showed staff using force against Partridge, who was naked, when he was an inmate having a mental breakdown.
Ryan Partridge, 37, who was in jail for a minor assault with another homeless person, became permanently blind during his psychotic self-harm. But he has now won his legal battle against the Boulder County Jail in Colorado.
While in the midst of psychosis, Partridge also attempted suicide by climbing over the top railing on a second-story level in the jail and jumping off.
He fell headfirst to the ground, hitting his head on a metal table and the cement floor, Law and Crime reports.
This resulted in Partridge breaking his vertebra. The ordeal occurred six weeks before the eyeballs were removed.
A month later, he tried the same jumping trick again, but was dissuaded by the guards.
While in jail in 2016, Partridge also attempted self-harm, including hitting his head on the toilet bowl, leaving him bloodied with seven knocked-out teeth.
Partridge’s attorney said officials ignored a judge’s emergency order for psychiatric treatment. The inmate, in the depths of his crisis, believed that the CIA was telling him to pluck his eyes out of their sockets.
Footage from inside the prison showed staff using force against Partridge, who was naked, when he was an inmate having a mental breakdown. Part of the deal was for excessive use of force by staff against him.
The Sheriff’s Office said they did not believe their staff was at fault, but “hope the settlement will provide closure for Mr. Partridge.”
In 2017, Partridge told CBS: ‘I don’t like loneliness. I don’t think this would have happened if I hadn’t been in isolation. I remember they asked me if I wanted medication. I didn’t know why and I didn’t trust anyone.
Following the winning settlement, Partridge’s attorney, David Lane, said in a statement: “He was refusing to take his medications and was in a psychotic state.” Ryan Partridge tore his eyes out of his head.
“This settlement is expected to send a message to Boulder sheriffs and law enforcement around the world that ignoring the serious psychiatric needs of inmates will cost them millions of dollars.”
The lawsuit stated: “Throughout all of 2016, Mr. Partridge was in and out of the Boulder County Jail, each time displaying unmistakable signs of serious mental illness and was periodically released from jail to the psychiatric hospital.” state or an affiliated hospital. treatment center in an attempt to restore him to legal jurisdiction to face the minor criminal charges pending against him.
‘The jail was well aware that Mr Partridge suffered from schizophrenia.
‘If either of the defendants had initiated the proper medical intervention on behalf of Mr Partridge, he would not have been blind today, knocked out seven teeth, or jumped from the second level crashing his head onto the metal table and floor. jail concrete and break his back.
The Sheriff’s Office said they did not believe their staff was at fault, but “hope the settlement will provide closure for Mr. Partridge.”
